Gold Dust Aucuba Plant (Aucuba japonica) greets the eye with striking, spotted leaves in shades of rich green and yellow, creating a standout presence in partly shaded or fully shaded spots. Each glossy, leathery leaf takes on a tropical flair, brightening your garden all year. This slow-growing evergreen reaches around 4 to 6 feet tall and wide, but it can stay smaller in a container. Thanks to its bold foliage, it offers a refreshing alternative to plain green shrubs and can brighten a dim corner.
Beyond its beautiful leaves, Gold Dust Aucuba Plant adapts well to challenging conditions, tolerating drought once mature and thriving in average soils as long as they drain properly. It often stands up to pests or deer and rarely suffers from diseases if kept in appropriate light. Native to parts of Asia, it has proven to be an excellent choice for shady borders, mixed plantings, or large patio containers. If you happen to grow both male and female Aucuba plants, you may even enjoy red berries that appear in fall, introducing extra seasonal flair.
Gold Dust Aucuba Plant Care
Pick a place that receives only morning sun or dappled shade throughout the day, as full afternoon sun can scorch the leaves. Provide moist, well-draining soil, and water new transplants more frequently until roots take hold. An occasional layer of organic matter or compost will boost growth and maintain nutrients. Mild to moderate fertilizer in spring can also help support lush foliage. Although it tolerates a range of pH levels, aim for a slightly acidic to neutral soil for best results. Indoors, keep it in a room with stable temperatures and bright, indirect light, watering when the top layer of soil begins to dry.
Pruning typically involves removing damaged or errant branches. Light trimming after new growth emerges in spring can help create a neat, compact silhouette. Overgrown specimens can be thinned out to allow additional light to reach lower leaves, preventing loss of foliage. If kept indoors, snip the tips occasionally to control height or encourage new branching.
Gold Dust Aucuba Plant Spacing
When forming a hedge or mass planting, keep plants about 3 to 4 feet apart so their foliage eventually intertwines without overcrowding. If giving them individual space in the garden, increase spacing to 5 or 6 feet to highlight each specimen’s color and shape. For container gardening, use a pot about 12 to 14 inches wide, and upgrade to a larger container if roots become cramped.
- SKU:
- 1231006766-pc
Container Sizes
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on; type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
4.5" Pot
Also Known As:
4.5" Container
Plant Age:
~ 6 months
Plant Size:
~ 3"-6"
Pot Size:
~ 4.5"H x 3.75"W
Volume:
1.42 quarts
Quart Pot
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
2.5 Quart
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
#1 Pot
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
#2 Pot
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
#3 Pot
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
For more detailed information, please click here.
Plant Addicts Guarantee (Included On All Plant Orders)
Plant Addicts always guarantees your plant(s) will arrive happy & healthy. However, plant(s) are being shipped through the mail & sometimes accidents happen. If the plant is dead, has dried out roots or the incorrect item was shipped, just notify Plant Addicts within 3 days upon delivery. We may ask for pictures but will try to make it as easy as possible for you. Please note, plant(s) with damaged branches or wilted leaves will not qualify for this guarantee. Plants are very resilient and will rebound quickly when cared for correctly.
For more information on how to care for your new plants, please click on our guide below.
Guide: How to Care for Your New Plant(s)
Plant Addicts Warranty - 1 Year (Extra Purchase Required)
We encourage all plant lovers to purchase the Plant Addicts Warranty, whether you're a new gardener or an expert. There are many variables outside of anyone's control that can cause a plant to die. Hungry animals, drought, poor soil conditions, over watering, diseases & pests are all good examples of what can cause plants to die. The Plant Addicts Warranty is a 1 year warranty protecting you from all of the unknowns and will replace your plant if something were to happen to it.
The warranty is purchased on a per plant basis and must be purchased at the same time as the plant(s). We will cover 100% of the price of the plant, but the warranty does not cover shipping costs. SImply let us know if your plant has died within 1 year of receiving it and we will get you a new one shipped out as soon as possible (depending on the time of the year and availability). We may ask for photos for documentation purposes, but we try to make the process as easy as possible.
For more information, please click on our page below.
Plant Shipping
Below are some factors we consider when determining when to ship the plants depending on the timing of the order.
Winter to Early Spring
We ship only when it's warm enough to plant in your growing zone.
Sometimes plants aren't completely ready to sell and ship in early spring. We will wait until the plants are ready before shipping so you don't get a subpar product.
For Southern plants we will be able to ship much earlier than plants coming from our northern nursery.
Summer
If there is extreme heat we may delay shipping for a week or several weeks.
We review what areas the plants are traveling through as well as your location.
Fall into Winter
We’ll ship plants out all the way up to the end of the fall planting season!
Winter
Get your order in early to reserve your plants for Spring planting!
Once your plant is shipped you’ll receive an automated email with tracking information.
Click here for more detailed shipping information.
Planter Shipping
Standard Colors: 2-3 business days
Special Order Colors: 8 weeks - this is due to the planter being custom made with the color(s) of your choice
Please Note: On special orders there can not be any cancellations